In recent times, in some villages in India, the dead Christians are exhumed, burnt, and ashes scattered. The Supreme Court has banned such acts. (The Scroll, 18 February 2026) Prophet Amos condemned the nation of Moab for a specific sin. They burnt the bones of the king of Edom into lime or ashes. (Amos 2:1) It was not a standard practice of burial or cremation. It was intended to offend and desecrate the dignity and memory of the dead.
Violation of human dignity: Amos did not focus on God’s Law revealed to the Children of Israel, but on the violation of God’s eternal laws, which could be termed as a ‘crime against humanity.’ All nations are accountable to God. Only righteousness exalts a nation. (Proverbs 14:34) Sin like this would be punished and judged by God. Strangely, the persecution of Christians in India, especially exhuming the dead, is not just a violation of citizen rights but a violation of human dignity.
Desecration: God has created humans in His image. (Genesis 1:26) Each person has to be treated with dignity, whether they are alive or dead. Moab violated all forms of decency. Bible scholars note that burning the bones of the dead man was showing contempt for the image of God in a man. It is desecrating the ‘Imago Dei.’ When dead Christians are exhumed, it is an assault on God’s precious creation, which is the crown of creation.
Cultural insensitivity: In all cultures, the dead are respected. Allowing the dead person to rest in peace in a grave is a value in most cultures. It was true in the Middle East region. Hence, it was an attack on the culture of the people. In India, the death, funeral or cremation is considered a sacred moment. Sadly, persecution violates the ethos of culture, that hatred is the focus.
Martyrs: John Wycliff, called the Morning Star of Reformation, died of a stroke in 1384. His bones were exhumed and burnt in 1428, after 44 years. Dead bones were a threat to the Church, and the leaders did not learn from the Book of Amos.
Do I realise God’s standards of probity?